CHS launches national awareness and fundraising campaign: “Breaking Barriers for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Canadians”

TORONTO, ON – It’s no secret that Canadians who are Deaf or hard of hearing face greater societal barriers than those who are hearing. Despite these challenges, thousands of Canadians are working everyday to break down these barriers and improve access and inclusion for everyone.

To recognize the remarkable contributions and accomplishments of these individuals, the Canadian Hearing Society (CHS) is proud to launch its latest awareness and fundraising campaign: “Breaking Barriers for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Canadians.”

“Breaking down barriers is what we strive to do everyday at CHS,” says Julia Dumanian, CEO of the Canadian Hearing Society. “But the stories we hear from individuals, young and old, from coast to coast to coast, who take it upon themselves to make an impact by improving their lives and the lives of others are truly inspiring and are worthy of recognition. We hope that by sharing these stories we inspire others to act.”

The “Breaking Barriers for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Canadians” campaign consists of a photo and video voting contest with a national awareness and fundraising campaign that runs from May 11 to June 22, 2018. The initiative is an opportunity for Canadians to share their personal stories describing how they are breaking down barriers for Deaf and hard of hearing Canadians.

Participants enter the contest by submitting a photo with their personal story in writing or in video format. Once entered, participants will share their story allowing Canadians to vote and donate in support of the CHS National Scholarship Program.

The top three individuals who receive the most public votes over the 6-week contest will win fantastic prizes courtesy of Enginess. Each week, participants, voters and donors will also have a chance to win spot prizes, including gift cards from Amazon.ca.

“We are proud to support CHS and the Breaking Barriers for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Canadians Campaign,” says Oren Shapiro, VP, Operations. “At Enginess, we are passionate about giving back and believe all Canadians should have equal access. It’s an honour to shine a light on individuals from across Canada who are doing their part to break down barriers in their communities.”

Share your story and enter the contest or vote for your favorite story today at: www.chs.ca/BreakingBarriers.

For more information on CHS’ fundraising activities please visit: www.chs.ca/ways-to-give.

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About the National Scholarship Program

CHS’ National Scholarship Program is uniquely inclusive of Deaf and hard of hearing students. Selection criteria are based on community involvement, character references, and a demonstrated commitment to transform the lives of Deaf and hard of hearing Canadians – and not on grades or individual student performance indicators. $3,000 (full-time) and $1,000 (part-time) scholarships are available for undergraduate and graduate students, including mature students attending any accredited institution inside or outside of Canada.

About the Canadian Hearing Society

Trusted since 1940, the Canadian Hearing Society (CHS) provides industry-leading products, programs and services to people who are Deaf and hard of hearing to ensure barrier-free communication access and increased quality of life. As the largest independent, registered non-profit organization of its kind in Canada, CHS experts advises other organizations and all levels of government on creating more accessible environments. To learn more, visit www.chs.ca.

About Enginess

Enginess is a Toronto-based digital consultancy. We help our clients realize the potential of digital technology. We shape strategies for business processes and deliver solutions that enhance customer experience, improve efficiencies, generate new market opportunities, and redefine value creation for industries. We consult, analyze, and design user experiences that exemplify your business requirements, user needs, and industry demands. We also perform implementation, focusing on system and information architecture, usability and programming, all with an eye to achieving better business outcomes. Over the past 18 years, we’ve built a strong reputation for consistently delivering high-quality customer service, and for our ability to handle complex digital strategy and development assignments. For more information about Enginess, please visit www.enginess.io.

For more information, please contact:

Pam Feldman
Director, Fundraising & Scholarships
1-866-518-0000 ext.4268
pfeldman@chs.ca

The Canadian Hearing Society has been awarded significant incremental funding for the 2018-2019 Supported Employment program. This program is funded by the Ontario Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development (MAESD) and furthers the Ontario Government’s commitment to inclusivity and enhancing services for those with disabilities, as well as its confidence in the Canadian Hearing Society as a leading organization for service delivery to Canadians who are Deaf and hard of hearing.

“People who are Deaf and hard of hearing who have the skills, the education and the ability have the right to the same employment opportunities as hearing people with similar qualifications,” says Gary Malkowski, VP Stakeholder and Employer Relations at Canadian Hearing Society. “This increase in funding for the Supported Employment program enables more individuals who are Deaf and hard of hearing to get the supports they need to find employment and meet their career goals”

The program is focused on job placement and increasing employability skills for those with disabilities in communities including Timmins and Belleville. The Canadian Hearing Society will bolster its existing Employment Services programs in Belleville and Timmins to help people who are Deaf or hard of hearing secure competitive and long-term employment in the community.

The Timmins program will be delivered under a new moniker of ‘EmployAll’ in partnership with March of Dimes Canada and Northern College.  This consortium model will facilitate free flow of resources and a greater sharing of skills and best practices across organizations to maximize the impact for people in the community and meet the full spectrum of disability needs.

The Belleville program is exclusive to the Canadian Hearing Society and will target new clients who are Deaf and hard of hearing to help them secure competitive and long-term employment in the community.  Job seekers will receive supports to help meet career goals including job readiness workshops, job search skill development, coaching and ongoing job retention support.

Since 2014, the Canadian Hearing Society has supported more than 3,800 Deaf and hard of hearing clients in finding employment and placed more than 235 individuals in jobs each year. The Canadian Hearing Society’s Employment Services – the largest of its kind in Canada - provides free specialized services to adults (aged 16 and over) to support them in seeking employment including arranging interpreters at job interviews and helping them to succeed at work. Employment Services also advise employers on how to implement workplace accommodations for a barrier-free work environment.

About Supported Employment Program

The Supported Employment model follows an approach of ‘place then train’ which helps clients maintain momentum. It is specifically designed for individuals who face complex barriers to employment due to a disability including some combination of limited or interrupted labour market experience, low levels of education or literacy and challenging life circumstances (e.g. poverty or lack of family/parental support). In addition, the Supported Employment program also provides a wide range of services and opportunities for employers to address staffing and skills needs through matches with suitably skilled people with disabilities.

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About the Canadian Hearing Society

Trusted since 1940, the Canadian Hearing Society provides industry-leading services and products that enable Deaf and hard of hearing Canadians to overcome barriers to participation. It is an independent, registered non-profit organization that reinvests proceeds from product and program sales back into community services, the focus of the organization. For more information about CHS services, visit https://www.chs.ca/

Follow us on Twitter @CHSCanada | Facebook @chssco

For media inquiries, please contact:

Maria Gregory

Director of Marketing & Communications

416-577-7993

Email: mgregory@chs.ca

April 11, 2018 – With the support of generous donors, the Canadian Hearing Society’s National Scholarship Program will mark its first-year anniversary by transforming more lives than ever before.

Last April, the Canadian Hearing Society proudly introduced a new scholarship fund for Deaf and hard of hearing students, whose greatest barrier to post-secondary education is often financial. Eleven students qualified for grants totalling $22,000 in 2017. This year, the program will award up to $100,000 – a four-fold increase in funding.

Announcing the kick-off of the 2018 National Scholarship Program, Julia Dumanian, CEO of the Canadian Hearing Society, said: “We are committed to supporting Deaf and hard of hearing students in achieving their academic potential. The scholarship program helps to break down financial barriers to higher education, giving students an opportunity to create a better life for themselves and their families regardless of their background.”

The scholarship program is uniquely inclusive of Deaf and hard of hearing students of all abilities. Selection criteria are based on community involvement, character references, and a demonstrated commitment to transform the lives of Deaf and hard of hearing Canadians– and not on grades or individual student performance indicators. Scholarships are available for undergraduate and graduate students, including mature students attending any accredited institution inside or outside of Canada. Further, students that receive funding remain eligible for the same level of funding for up to four years.

“Thank-you from the bottom of my heart for this wonderful scholarship and encouragement toward my academic endeavours. This scholarship means the world to me. It’s a first step toward my dream career in Health Information Diagnostic Management,” said Jennifer Claydon, a 2017 scholarship winner attending the University of Winnipeg and Red River College. “It has made the cost of my education much easier for me.”

Who is Eligible

The scholarships are available to Canadian residents who are at least 17 years old, and Deaf, Deaf/Blind or hard of hearing. First-year or returning students must pursue full-time, part-time or distance-learning studies at an accredited educational institution. Scholarship grants of $3,000 for full-time students and $1,000 for part-time students may be applied to cover tuition, residence and educational resources.

How to Apply

This year the Canadian Hearing Society is encouraging students to apply in their preferred language (American Sign Language, its French-language equivalent Langue des Signes Quebecoise, English or French). The submission deadline is May 1, 2018 at 4 p.m. EST. Application materials must include proof of community involvement, letters of reference, an audiogram documenting hearing loss and a personal essay. More information is available at www.chs.ca/scholarships.

Winners will be announced at the President’s Scholarship Golf Tournament on September 12, 2018.

About the Award Selection Process

A Canadian Hearing Society committee of staff and Deaf and hard of hearing community volunteers, including educators and industry leaders, will review and select applicants in July.  Winners will receive their grants and be publicly recognized in September. The exact number of grants depends on the ranking and number of qualified applicants. 

For information about the 2018 National Scholarship Program, visit chs.ca/scholarships, email giving@chs.ca, or call 1-866-518-0000, ext. 4011.

The Canadian Hearing Society gratefully acknowledges the National Scholarship Committee members for their commitment to community service: Dr. Linda Campbell (chair), Brahm Spilfogel, Diane Gregoris, Jim Kyte, Lynn Lockhart-Menzies, Nigel Howard, Pam Feldman and Rex Banks. The scholarship program is made possible thanks to the ongoing support of its donors and corporate partners.

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About the Canadian Hearing Society

Trusted since 1940, the Canadian Hearing Society (CHS) provides industry-leading products, programs and services to people who are Deaf and hard of hearing to ensure barrier-free communication access and increased quality of life. As the largest independent, registered non-profit organization of its kind in Canada, CHS experts advises other organizations and all levels of government on creating more accessible environments. To learn more, visit www.chs.ca.

TORONTO, ON – Mar. 23, 2018 – The Ontario Public Sector Salary Disclosure Act was implemented in 1996 to make Ontario's public sector more open and accountable to taxpayers. The act requires organizations that receive public funding from the Province of Ontario to make salary and employment information available to the public. The Canadian Hearing Society supports transparency and accountability and provides this information annually.

On March 23rd the 2017 Ontario “Sunshine List” – which includes the names, positions, salaries and total taxable benefits of all employees paid $100,000 or more in the previous calendar year – was made public. This year there is an unusual number of Canadian Hearing Society staff included with exceptional compensation amounts identified on the list.

The 2017 compensation numbers include a one-time pay out of banked sick days for union and non-union employees as agreed during the collective bargaining process. In some cases, the payouts for sick days could be a significant percentage of a person’s annual salary. In addition, annual compensation numbers reflect an increase to base compensation from prior years for some CHS employees, including a retroactive increase for the last four years as negotiated in the new collective agreement. Simply put, these numbers do not reflect the normalized annual compensation for the majority of staff members who are included on the 2017 list.

The Canadian Hearing Society issued this statement to clarify these details for our staff and the general public upon release of the 2017 Sunshine List. 

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